A one-armed pole dancer has emerged victorious in the International Pole Championships.

Despite missing an arm, Deborah Roach from Australia secured the 'Ultimate Pole' title in the disabled category last Thursday (March 15) in Hong Kong.

"I actually got into an underground Goth scene in my teenage years because I didn't fit into normal society," she told Reuters. "And I loved dancing the night away on the dance floor, and that led to stage dancing in clubs."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Taking up pole dancing and aerial acrobatics in 2006 after being inspired by a circus-themed double act, Roach won a 2009 competition against able-bodied dancers.

Since then, she has given up her job in IT and become a personal trainer.

Roach now aspires to represent her country in the Paralympic Games, having got her first prosthetic and learnt to ride a bike at the age of 28.